Portable resistance-based exercise machine and system

Abstract

An exercise system that may be rail-less, frameless, and/or portable is described. The exercise system includes a carriage having a plurality of wheels and a stationary platform. The stationary platform is independent of and separate from the carriage, and the stationary platform is freestanding. At least one tension member having a first end is attached to the carriage and a second end is detachably attached to the platform such that the carriage is movable on a horizontal plane parallel to a ground surface while the stationary platform remains in a fixed position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a carriage movable between a first position to a second position via a movement device;   at least one tension member configured to couple to the carriage, the at least one tension member comprising a tension member connector;   a platform independent of and separate from the carriage, the platform comprising at least one platform connector configured to couple to the tension member connector to form a tensioned coupling between the carriage and the platform; and   a guide mat comprising a first elongated aperture positioned on a first side of a top mat surface, a second elongated aperture positioned on a second opposing side of the top mat surface, a first track positioned in the first elongated aperture, and a second track positioned in the second elongated aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated aperture and the second elongated aperture are each rectangular shaped, and the first elongated aperture and the second elongated aperture are each encapsulated by a body of the guide mat. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the movement device of the carriage comprises a plurality of wheels; and   the first track positioned in the first elongated aperture is configured to retain a first portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage, and the second track positioned in the second elongated aperture is configured to retain a second portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tension member is a plurality of tension members, and each of the plurality of tension members comprises an elongated spring body configured to deliver a predetermined force. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , wherein a body of the guide mat comprises a folding notch extending substantially along the body such that the body of the guide mat is foldable along the folding notch. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the guide mat comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the platform being configured to be positioned at the proximal end;   the first track comprises a first mat tab exposed on a bottom surface of the guide mat, and the second track comprises a second mat tab exposed on the bottom surface of the guide mat; and   the first mat tab and the second mat tab both project inwards towards a distal end of the guide mat.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise system according to  claim 6 , wherein the platform comprises a first platform tab and a second platform tab projecting from a bottom surface of the platform towards a direction opposite that of a front of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first platform tab is configured to hook and form an interference connection with the first mat tab of the guide mat, and the second platform tab is configured to hook and form an interference connection with the second mat tab of the guide mat. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform further comprises at least one release switch configured to dislodge the tension member connector from a platform aperture of the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one computing device and a display device, the at least one computing device being in communication with at least one sensor of the exercise system, the at least one computing device being configured to display information associated with measurements performed by the exercise system using the at least one sensor on the display device.   
     
     
         11 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a carriage comprising a plurality of wheels and at least one tension member having a first end coupled to the carriage and a second end comprising a tension member connector;   a platform, the platform being independent of and separate from the carriage, wherein the platform comprises:
 a first cable extension arm accessible on a first side of the platform, and a second cable extension arm accessible on a second side of the platform; 
 a first retractable cable having a first end coupled to the first cable extension arm and a second end coupled to a first spinning cable spool, and a second retractable cable having a first end coupled to the second cable extension arm and a second end coupled to a second spinning cable spool; and 
 at least one platform aperture on a front face of the platform facing the carriage, wherein the tension member connector is configured to be coupled to the at least one platform aperture, forming a coupling between the carriage and the platform. 
   
     
     
         12 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , wherein the platform further comprises a resistance selection switch that, when manipulated, adjusts a resistance delivered by at least one of the first spinning cable spool and the second spinning cable spool. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , wherein the platform further comprises at least one release switch configured to dislodge the tension member connector from the at least one platform aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a stowage dock comprising a plurality of wheels configured to store the carriage and the platform therein in a vertical side-by-side arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one computing device and a display device, the at least one computing device being in communication with at least one sensor of the exercise system, the at least one computing device being configured to display information associated with measurements performed by the exercise system using the at least one sensor on the display device.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a guide mat that is foldable, the guide mat comprising a first track formed of metal configured to retain a first portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage and a second track formed of metal configured to retain a second portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage, wherein other portions of the guide mat are formed of a non-metallic material.   
     
     
         17 . An exercise system that is rail-less, frameless, and portable, comprising:
 a carriage movable between a first position to a second position;   at least one tension member configured to couple to the carriage, the at least one tension member comprising at least one tension member connector, wherein the at least one tension member connector comprises a base and an extending member extending from the base, the base has a diameter greater than that of the extending member, and the extending member comprises an annular recess that couples the extending member to a cord tip; and   a platform independent of and separate from the carriage, the platform comprising at least one platform connector configured to couple to the at least one tension member connector to form a tensioned coupling between the carriage and the platform, wherein the platform further comprises a projection that is configured to engage the annular recess of the at least one tension member, thereby maintaining a connection between the platform and the carriage via the at least one tension member;   wherein the at least one tension member is adapted to impose a tensioning force such that the carriage is movable on a horizontal plane parallel to a ground surface while the platform remains stationary in a fixed position.   
     
     
         18 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one tension member is a plurality of tension members. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise system according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of tension members comprises an elongated spring body configured to deliver the tensioning force. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a first cable device and a second cable device, wherein the first cable device is accessible from a first platform side of the platform and the second cable device is accessible from a second platform side of the platform. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise system according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first cable device comprises a first cable extension arm, a first retractable cable, and a first spinning cable spool, the first retractable cable having a first end coupled to the first cable extension arm and a second end coupled to the first spinning cable spool; and   the second cable device comprises a second cable extension arm, a second retractable cable, and a second spinning cable spool, the second retractable cable having a first end coupled to the second cable extension arm and a second end coupled to the second spinning cable spool.   
     
     
         22 . The exercise system according to  claim 21 , wherein the platform further comprises:
 a resistance selection switch that, when manipulated, adjusts a resistance delivered by at least one of the first spinning cable spool and the second spinning cable spool.   
     
     
         23 . The exercise system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first cable extension arm and the second cable extension arm are configured to be disposed within a respective platform side such that an end of the first and second cable extension arm is flush with the respective platform side. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first cable extension arm and the second cable extension arm are configured to be popped or otherwise pulled out of the platform. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , wherein the platform further comprises a coupling member positioned on a rear face of the platform opposite of a side facing the carriage, the coupling member being a rod having a recessed portion for receiving an attachment device. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the carriage further comprises a plurality of wheels; and   the exercise system further comprises a guide mat that is foldable, the guide mat comprising a first track configured to retain a first portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage and a second track configured to retain a second portion of the plurality of wheels of the carriage.   
     
     
         27 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a stowage dock comprising a plurality of wheels configured to store the carriage and the platform therein, wherein the stowage dock is configured to store the carriage and the platform therein in a vertical side-by-side arrangement. 
     
     
         28 . The exercise system according to  claim 27 , wherein a top surface of at least one of the carriage, the platform, and the stowage dock is formed of a ribbed material suitable for providing friction during exercise. 
     
     
         29 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , wherein the platform further comprises at least one release switch configured to dislodge the tension member connector from a platform aperture of the platform. 
     
     
         30 . The exercise system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least one computing device and a display device, the at least one computing device being in communication with at least one sensor of the exercise system, the at least one computing device being configured to display information associated with measurements performed by the exercise system using the at least one sensor on the display device.